PROMINENT people across East Lancashire have been paying tribute to leading industrialist Tony Rink who has died at the age of 57.

Mr Rink was chairman of Wolsteholme Rink in Darwen, one of the most prominent businesses in the area, which has a turnover of £100 million a year and employs 650 people.

He joined the company in 1970, first as financial director, then joint managing director and then chairman with his brother Paul, who is also well known in East Lancashire.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, whose wife Alice is Mr Rink's second cousin, said: "I pay tribute to Tony for his work as one of the leaders of the business community in East Lancashire and express my sympathy to his family.

"In particular I pay tribute to his work to involve businesses in the community and in environmental issues. These are areas in which he was a leading figure."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Malcolm Doherty said: "Wolstenholme Rink is one the of the most prominent businesses in the borough and particularly in Darwen, bringing quality jobs to the area.

"Tony has made a big impact here as he has in Bolton where he lived. I am sure he will be very sadly missed, not least by the workforce at Wolstenholme Rink."

Colin Rigby, the leader of the Conservative group on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: It is with regret that I have learnt of the sudden death of Tony Rink. He took a great interest in the borough and particularly in the environmental problems of the area. "He will be sorely missed by the staff and by his family to whom we offer our condolences."

Mr Rink, of Regent Road, Bolton was married to Vivienne, a magistrate and was president of the Bolton Lads and Girls Club and has a son Andrew who lives in America.

He was chairman of the Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Bolton's "Vision for the Future" group, a joint business and local authority working group to promote Bolton's interests.

Mr Rink attended the London School of Economics between 1960 and 1963, where he gained an upper second class honours degree.

He was a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and also worked in the corporate finance department of merchant bankers Lazard Brothers in London.

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